Without knowing more, or being there to observe this behavior I can't really begin to evaluate his fears. You are right in that this is a really unique problem. This could have a huge range of triggers though, so without knowing more I'm very hesitant to offer a treatment plan. The trigger could be the colour of the bowl, its shape, its reflectiveness, its texture... How many different bowls or plates have you offered him dinner on? Have you tried different shapes? Different colours? Bowls of different materials (stainless, plastic, glass, etc.)? What about flat objects - like a placemat? Will he eat from an egg cup? What about a sunday dish? It could also be the context in which his bowl is offered... when do you feed him? Is it near your own meal times? Before you leave for work? Is it possible he's linking his finishing his meal from the bowl with something negative happening (like you going away)? There are far too many variables in place here for me to really figure out what's going on.

That said...

The best advice I can offer is to use a clicker and treats. Click and treat for any interaction with your bowl of choice. Click and treat if he'll look at the bowl. Click and treat if he'll step towards the bowl. Click if he'll touch the bowl. Click if he'll lick the bowl. (etc) Doing this should help calm his fear, and hey! You can just use his meal to reward him.

I wish you the best of luck, and if this doesn't help - I'd highly recommend seeking the help of a behaviorist or trainer in your area; someone who can be there to observe the situation fully.